Ep. 3 - It's Between You and God
Can publicly funded Catholic schools omit topics like contraception and gender diversity from their sex ed curriculum? Some education advocates would say no. But Catholic school officials say sex ed curriculum taught in Catholic schools must align with Church teachings and be approved by Catholic bishops. Caught in the middle are Catholic school teachers, who are asked to meet the demands on both sides.
In this episode, hosts Matt Nethersole and Tiff Lam unpack what’s included, and excluded, in bishop-approved sex ed. They also speak with equity-focused educators about a projected $1.7 million investment in new Catholic Sex Ed textbooks. Later, they explore some of the barriers to queer and trans inclusion in Catholic schools, and the efforts being made to reimagine Catholic education in the 21st century.
This episode is essential listening for parents, students, educators, and anyone interested in the intersection of faith, public education, and human rights in Ontario.
00:00 Faith, Education, and 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion
00:35 Content Advisory: Homophobia and Transphobia
01:00 Being a Gay Teacher in Catholic Schools
03:50 Marriage Equality and Workplace Discrimination
07:00 Catholic Teachers Supporting LGBTQ+ Students
08:50 Fully Alive Curriculum on Gender and Marriage
12:10 Advocating to End Fully Alive Curriculum
15:00 Blessed and Beloved: New Textbook Series
17:40 Representation Issues in New Textbooks
20:00 Secular vs. Catholic Curriculum Standards
22:15 Teachers' Judgment in Curriculum Delivery
24:50 Parental Rights vs. Student Privacy Debate
26:00 Faith, Inclusion, and Education Questions
#CatholicEducation #LGBTQInclusion #OntarioSchool
